Fan Report by Chris Akins.

Ohhhh what a night!! This was my first Rocket Ticket experience and was thrilled when I discovered that my tickets were in the 8th row on the band side of the stage and knew that I would be able to see Elton smiling the entire show. I enjoyed the pre-show chatter with fellow Elton fans, it was great meeting you guys, so glad to see I’m not the only crazy Elton stalker in the world!

Show started with"Sixty Years On", no need to go into how great it was to hear it again. However, after seeing it in New York on his birthday, even 8th row couldn’t compare to that. I was thrilled to know that Elton would be continuing his rarity selection with "Madman Across The Water", "Where to Now St. Peter", "Hercules", "High Flying Bird" (favorite rarity), "Holiday Inn", and "Burn Down the Mission". It’s great to hear all of these songs live for once.

I was also thrilled that "All the Girls Love Alice" remained in the set and the addition of "Sacrifice" was simply beautiful. That song really works out well with the band, I wish he would play it more often in the States.

Overall it was a great show with an enthusiastic crowd, I only remained in my seat for one song, "Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word". No one cared if we stood and the floor was standing through basically the entire 2 hour 20 minute show (yes, a bit shorter than what we’re used to).

Now to the awkward moments of the night - oh yes, there were some. "Rocket Man" was great, however at the end of the song when Elton closes it out, he slapped his microphone away from his mouth and pulled it back extremely aggressive and finished it out - luckily. This made me think of his last tantrum a week ago in Puerto Rico. The crowd went wild, thinking it was Elton rocking out and getting into it, the die hards know different, don’t we. This made me nervous, because the concert had been great thus far, but I didn’t let it get to me because Elton really loved the crowd and was smiling and grinning so much throughout the night.

Then later, threw a water bottle down again, and as it did in Puerto Rico, it went all over the keyboard area of Guy’s territory. Then, I knew something was up after he went into "Crocodile Rock" after I’m Still Standing". No "The Bitch is Back"? No, he’ll play it later right? Wrong. Elton left after "Crocodile Rock", came back, signed for a bit and played "Your Song"! With only Guy Babylon, and Bob Birch. Then, he addressed the audience and thanked us all for our loyalty and dedicated "Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me" to us all. Still no Nigel or Davey. John Mahon came back to do percussion at first, then switched to Nigel’s drum set on the second verse, the most awkward moment I have seen at an Elton concert. John Mahon was in tennis shoes, t-shirt, and shorts, ready to leave the venue but came back to help out.

Elton was finished. No "Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting)" or "The Bitch is Back", and with an ending like that, I was left puzzled, but then I realized that’s what you get with Elton. He’s unpredictable and such a diva, that’s why we all love him and always will. It was a fantastic show and a very memorable experience. Thank you once again Elton and band, for making my 13th show a memorable one, I’ll see you again soon.

Following is the complete set list of the Birmingham, AL show on May 5, 2007:

• Sixty Years On
  
• Madman Across the Water
  
• Where to Now St. Peter?
  
• Hercules
  
• Take Me to the Pilot
  
• High Flying Bird
  
• Holiday Inn
  
• Burn Down the Mission
  
• Better off Dead
  
• Daniel
  
• Honky Cat
  
• Rocket Man
  
• I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues
  
• Sacrifice
  
• The Bridge
  
• Mona Lisa's and Mad Hatters
  
• Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word
  
• Bennie and the Jets
  
• All the Girls Love Alice
  
• Tiny Dancer
  
• Philadelphia Freedom
  
• I'm Still Standing
  
• Crocodile Rock
  
  
• Your Song
  
• Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me

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